Members,
This week, radical anti-gun politicians in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee rammed through a slew of extreme gun-control bills. They ignored expert testimony on how these bills do not address public safety issues. They ignored thousands of Maine gun owners who contacted them highlighting the fact that these laws only restrict the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The only person they didn’t ignore: anti-gun Billionaire Mike Bloomberg.
To save our 2A rights in Maine, we must double down and fight these bills. I’m calling on all members to join GOME members and the National Rifle Association for a “Maine Lobby Day” on Tuesday, May 30th at 9AM. Members will meet at the Maine State House where they will be given free t-shirts, gear, and handouts before heading upstairs to lobby members to vote against these anti-gun bills.
A summary of some of the worst bills are below for reference:
LD 22 is an overly broad bill that puts Maine out of alignment with federal law regarding the sale of antique firearms. This bill classifies these firearms in the same class as all other firearms, resulting in a conflict with how these sales are processed. This would put sellers who follow federal law, in violation of state law.
LD 60 delays Second Amendment rights by imposing a three-day waiting period before an individual may receive a firearm that they lawfully purchase, with limited exemptions. There is no evidence that waiting periods reduce violent crime. Instead, this simply denies someone the ability to buy a firearm for urgent self-defense.
LD 168 requires background checks for all private sales of firearms, including those at gun shows or resulting from advertising, with very limited exceptions. It applies to a private sale between two parties – including friends, neighbors, and coworkers, regardless of where the sale takes place. All such transfers – even if the seller knows the recipient is not a prohibited person – would have to be conducted through a federal firearm licensed dealer (FFL), with extensive federal paperwork, payment of an undetermined fee, and approval from the U.S. government.
LD 1011 requires law abiding gun owners who are victims of theft, to report the stolen firearm within 72 hours of when the owner knew or “should have known” it was lost or stolen. Rather than deter fraudulent gun sales, this bill would turn victims of gun theft into criminals and make people whose guns have been lost or stolen hesitant to assist police for fear of prosecution.
LD 1340 bans legal “rapid-fire modification devices” that are already commonly owned and in use by Mainers. These devices include but are not limited to bump stocks and binary triggers that are used in a wide array of legal activities, including competitive and recreational shooting. Possession of such devices would be a Class D crime.
Again, please make sure you join your fellow gun-owners on Tuesday, May 30th at the Maine State House to protect our 2A rights.
